Skolars secure point in BetFred League 1 thriller

Skolars drew their opening game of the season in League 1, kicking a penalty goal to level the scores with just nine seconds of the game remaining.

The game started with Skolars winning a penalty in the first tackle, but coach Jermaine Coleman will want to cut down on the 14 penalties that saw his side having to work hard in defence for a large part of the second half.

After Mike Bishay had been sin-binned for holding down, Crusaders threw the ball wide to expose a gap, Omari Caro intercepted a pass in his own half and he cantered to the line, scoring under the posts, Charlie Lawrence adding the conversion.

Skolars went ahead again sooner after Bishay returned to the field, after Jy-Mel Coleman put in a short pass to Lamont Bryan who blasted his way to the line, Coleman successfully taking over the kicking duties.

Two tries for North Wales in the last seven minutes of the first half put them 6 points ahead at the break. First Gavin Conroy caught a pass knocked-back from a high kick to the right wing, then Dale Bloomfield found a gap on the left wing when Michael Brown attempted an interception and the Crusaders went in 18-12 up at half-time.

Skolars dominated the early part of the second half, with the two dual registered Broncos’ player featuring. Rob Butler went close to the line and Api Perhairangi was held-up over the line before Butler crashed over from close range. Coleman’s conversion levelling the scores at 18 all.

However, the Welsh side went ahead again when Ryan Smith darted down the right without a defender getting to close to him. Four minutes later, Elliott Hall scored on his professional debut, taking a long pass from Caro out on the left wing. However, Coleman missed the touchline conversion attempt and Skolars were two points behind on the hour mark.

They had a couple of chances to go ahead, Coleman putting out a long pass to Sam Nash, but the winger couldn’t get past his opposite number. The increasingly influential Perhairangi found a gap near the line but was adjudged to have crossed behind a team-mate and Crusaders were awarded a relieving penalty.

The home start made a series of attacking moves. They forced a goal-line drop out, but Skolars regained possession when the restart kick found touch. Hall got a hand to what might have been a try making pass out wide, but conceded a scrum close to the tryline.

Crusaders had a chance to extend the lead when they were awarded a penalty 10 metres out, but decided to run the ball in the hope of finishing the game off with three minutes to go, but they lost possession. Skolars moved quickly upfield, Bishay was held down after a run towards the tryline. That saw Skolars awarded a penalty 15 metres from the tryline. With nine seconds left, Skolars elected to kick for goal and Coleman slotted the ball over to give his side a league point.

The 2018 London Skolars secured a point at Queensway Stadium, Wrexham, in a tense hard-fought battle in North Wales with both sides finishing with 24 points each.

Reduced to 12 men following a sin binning of Mike Bishay, the men from New River took an early lead through a superb Omari Caro interception in his own half, with the goal tagged on by Jy-mel Coleman, in typical imperious form with the boot .

Other Skolars tries came from Lamont Bryan, loanee Rob Butler and incisive full back, Elliott Hall. Trailing 24-22 with seconds on the clock, Coleman again struck with the radar boot to kick a penalty and see the Skolars return South with a well deserved point in their first BetFred League 1 match.

Full match report to follow.

YOUR London Skolars 19 man squad for the BetFred League One fixture against North Wales Crusaders, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham

London Skolars have announced their latest captures for 2018 with the re-signing of influentiual duo, Jy-mel Coleman and Eddie Mbaraga.

Half-back or loose forward Coleman, who originally joined the club in 2009, brings a wealth of experience to the ambitious Skolars club. The Leeds-born pivot has also represented Jamaica at international level.

Back row forward Eddie Mbaraga is a product of the highly successful London Skolars junior system. A damaging runner, Mbaraga is one of the most respected forwards in League 1 becoming a regular member of the RL World League One ‘Team of the Month.’

Skolars Head Coach Jermaine Coleman said:

“Eddie and Jy-mel are high quality additions to our 2018 playing roster. They bring guile and experience to the team as well as the ability to communicate really well and at the right times. League One is highly competitive and having a large squad with the right measure of young and experience is essential in achieving the right progress. We’re genuinely excited about the season ahead and look forward to our trip to North Wales on Sunday.”

Skolars first home game takes place against Newcastle Thunder on 10th March at New River Stadium. Tickets for the game can be purchased through our ticket partners, Eventbrite, here: http://bit.ly/2ExVnpO